University of Toronto Athletics

Athletic Scholarships
Financial Need Athletic Scholarship Application Procedures
Varsity Blues Award Descriptions


A) Athletic Scholarships

To help our student-athletes reach their potential in the classroom and on the field, Athletic Scholarships, or Athletic Financial Awards (AFA’s), are a crucial part of interuniversity sport in Canada. They provide our student-athletes with support due to the demands on their time while completing full-time studies along with busy training schedules simultaneously.
•    There are over 100 Varsity Blues intercollegiate Athletic Financial Awards.
•    Some of the awards may have a financial need requirement.
•    Financial need awards are restricted to students who can demonstrate financial need – defined usually as OSAP eligibility. Such awards are restricted to Ontario residents.

Regulations:
•    All athletic scholarships related to Varsity sports fall under OUA and U SPORTS regulations.
•    Those regulations include a maximum $5000 award per person per calendar year.
•    Those regulations include, for continuing student-athletes (includes transfer), a GPA 2.50 or greater.
•    Those regulations include, for incoming students, an entering average of 80% or greater.

B) Financial Need Athletic Scholarship Application Procedures

Applications for athletic needs based awards are made available via email to all student-athletes listed on eligibility certificates in March.

• The deadline for all award applications is April 30, unless otherwise specified. The decisions will be made by the end of August. The award winners will be notified, after grades have been released. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
• The awarded amount will be deposited directly into the recipient’s student account in two equal installments, one per academic semester, to cover tuition and fees.

Athletic Scholarship for Incoming Student-Athletes
Where applicable, coaches may approach recruits during the year and offer a maximum of $4500/person for the ensuing academic year. The student-athlete must have a minimum entering average of 80% to be eligible to receive the scholarship.

Contact Information and Next Steps:
Deadlines and other procedures can be obtained by contacting Alberto Bustamante.

C) Varsity Blues Athletic Award Descriptions

First Colour T
Awarded on the recommendation of the coach to student-athletes who are listed on the team’s eligibility certificate and are members of the program at the end of the competitive season.

Bronze T
Awarded to student-athletes whose participation has been recognized by completing three seasons as a Varsity Blues student-athlete.

Silver T
This award is presented primarily to Bronze T holders in their graduating year for truly outstanding athletic performance. Major criteria for "truly outstanding athletic performance" include:
•    U SPORTS All-Canadian
•    U SPORTS/OUA Major Award winner
•    U SPORTS Tournament All-star
•    Multiple OUA All-star selections
•    U SPORTS and OUA Record-Holder or Individual Gold Medalist Secondary Criteria:
•    Participation in Olympic, Commonwealth, Pan-Am, World Championships or FISU Games
•    Team record-holder (only if can be verified by intercollegiate staff)
•    Invitational Tournament All-star or Individual Gold Medalist Notes:
1)    Nominees must demonstrate major criteria to be considered.
2)    Successful candidates would ideally have multiple major criteria in their nomination.
3)    Leadership and Sportsmanship are NOT criteria for this award

Rookies of the Year
Awarded to the female/male varsity student-athlete in their first year of post- secondary eligibility, who exhibits outstanding athletic performance.

Clara Benson Honour Award
The Clara Benson Honour Award is to be awarded annually to the women's undergraduate student who is a Bronze T recipient at the University of Toronto who has contributed the most to university athletics from the standpoint of:

1. Academic achievement of a “B” average or better in the most recent 2 years at the University of Toronto.
2. Skill in athletics should be shown by outstanding participation in intercollegiate sport.
3. Participation in recreational, interfaculty or community based sport activities either as a participant or an administrator, is expected.
4. In both intercollegiate and U of T non intercollegiate athletic involvement, athlete will demonstrate personal leadership and fair play.

In general, when considering a candidate, one should think of a person who has good scholarship, who is very highly skilled in athletics and who has fine personal qualities of dependability, personal commitment, responsibility, supportiveness, and respect.


George M. Biggs Trophy
The George M. Biggs Trophy is to be awarded annually to the men's undergraduate student who is a Bronze T recipient at the University of Toronto who has contributed the most to university athletics from the standpoint of:

1. Academic achievement of a “B” average or better in the most recent 2 years at the University of Toronto.
2. Skill in athletics should be shown by outstanding participation in intercollegiate sport.
3. Participation in recreational, interfaculty or community based sport activities either as a participant or an administrator, is expected.
4. In both intercollegiate and U of T non intercollegiate athletic involvement, athlete will demonstrate personal leadership and fair play.

In general, when considering a candidate, one should think of a person who has good scholarship, who is very highly skilled in athletics and who has fine personal qualities of dependability, personal commitment, responsibility, supportiveness, and respect.


Frank Pindar Athletes of the Year
Awarded to the men's and women's varsity student-athlete competing in a sport whose official season concludes with either an OUA or other university-recognized championship event, and who exhibits the highest degree of excellence while representing U of T at competitions during the team’s intercollegiate schedule for the current academic year.

T-Holders' Athletes of the Year
Presented annually to the men's and women's student that exhibits the highest degree of excellence in athletics.

T-Holder Academic Excellence Award
Awarded to student-athletes who achieve first class honours in their academic studies. The student-athlete must consume a year of eligibility in order to be eligible. This award is sponsored by the Men’s and Women’s T-Holders’ Association.

Kirkwood Award
Presented to an undergraduate member of the Council of Athletics and Recreation (CAR) or one of its constituent committees who makes a substantial contribution to the Council and its committee(s).

Hill-Powell Administrative Award
Presented annually to the female student contributing the most to the administration of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education programs during the current year.

John E. McCutcheon Award
Presented annually to the male student contributing the most to the administration of the Faculty of Kinesiology Physical Education programs.

Gordon Cressy Leadership Award
Awarded by the University to students who have made outstanding leadership contributions to the University through extra-curricular involvement.

Dean’s Student Leadership Awards
These awards recognize those students registered at the University of Toronto and participating in the programs of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in these programs.